As an owner operator, every minute counts. Time spent navigating phone trees and sitting on hold with brokers is time you could be using to plan your routes, get on the road, or take a break. That's why we built Calling Assistant—a new feature exclusive to Dispatch that acts as your personal assistant for broker communications.  

Dispatch combines AI and humans to find, match and confirm loads to your exact preferences so you can focus on driving. Calling Assistant handles the grunt work of calling brokers so you don't have to. It dials the number, navigates their phone system, waits through hold music, and connects you the moment a real person picks up. While your assistant works in the background, you're free to keep comparing loads, checking rates, or planning your next move.

The Problem: Hold Time is Costing You Opportunities

Owner operators everywhere share the same frustration: you call a broker for a load, wait on hold for 3-5 minutes, only to find out it's already gone. The opportunity cost adds up quickly because every minute you spend waiting is a minute you can't spend searching for other loads, and you can't always effectively evaluate other opportunities while stuck on a call. Dispatch Calling Assistant solves this problem by taking the waiting off your plate.

How Calling Assistant Works

Using Calling Assistant is simple and built directly into Dispatch:

Find Your Load: Whether you're browsing loads on TruckSmarter's free load board or getting personalized recommendations through Dispatch, start by finding a load that fits your business.

Tap Call Broker: From any load details page, tap the Call broker button to see your contact options: 

• Call now: Opens your phone to dial directly 

• Calling Assistant: Activates Calling Assistant

Let Your Assistant Handle the Wait: Once you select Get them on the line, Calling Assistant immediately dials the broker and starts navigating their phone system. 

You'll see real-time status updates in a banner at the top of your screen: "Call connecting" or "Call in progress".  

Pro Tip: You can navigate away from the load details page and keep browsing while your assistant works. The status banner stays visible no matter where you are in the app.

Connect When It Matters: Calling Assistant confirms that the load is still available and that the broker is ready to speak with you. After that, you'll receive an incoming call connecting you directly to the conversation. Answer the call, introduce yourself, and get down to business. No time wasted, no hold music, just productive conversations.

What Calling Assistant Can Do For You

Here’s what Calling Assistant does and how it can impact your load searches for the better: 

1. Save Time on Every Call: Instead of sitting through hold queues and automated menus, you get connected to a broker only when it's time to talk. This means you can evaluate more loads in less time and make faster decisions about which opportunities are worth chasing.

2. Stay Productive While You Wait: Calling Assistant works in the background, so you're never stuck doing nothing. Keep looking for loads, comparing rates, or exploring alternative lanes while your assistant handles the phone tree.

3. Only Talk to Real Opportunities: Calling Assistant verifies load availability before connecting you, which means you're not wasting time on loads that are already gone. You focus your energy on conversations that move your business forward.

4. Maintain Control: You're always in the driver's seat. Calling Assistant handles the logistics of getting someone on the line, but you control the conversation, the negotiation, and the final decision to book. 

Calling Assistant isn't about replacing your expertise—it's about giving you more time to use it.

More Smart Tools Exclusive to Dispatch

Calling Assistant is just one way Dispatch helps you work smarter. If you're exploring what makes Dispatch different from a regular load board, here are two more features designed to save you time:

Bid & Book

Every Dispatch load includes quick-call and email buttons, making it easy to contact brokers in a single tap. If you choose to email, Dispatch auto-populates a professional message with all relevant load information. Just customize it with your bid or questions and send—no need to retype details or look up contact info.

Search Feedback

Ever run a search and get zero results? Dispatch now provides real-time tips and feedback as you adjust your filters, helping you understand why certain searches aren't working and how to find loads faster. Instead of trial and error, you get actionable guidance that points you toward better opportunities.

These features work together to create an AI freight dispatch tool that handles the burden of busy work while you focus on running your business.

What Makes Dispatch Different from TruckSmarter’s Free Load Board?

Many drivers start with TruckSmarter's free load board and wonder if upgrading to a paid service like Dispatch is worth it. The difference comes down to how much time you're willing to spend on administrative tasks. To highlight the advantages, we’ve created a side-by-side chart that compares workflows step by step.

TruckSmarter's free load board gives you access to thousands of loads, but Dispatch takes it further by adding an intelligent layer that saves time, eliminates busy work, and helps you make smarter decisions. Think of it as the difference between doing everything manually versus having a personal assistant who handles the routine tasks while you focus on strategy.

Getting Started with Calling Assistant

Calling Assistant is available now for all Dispatch subscribers. If you're already using Dispatch, update to the latest version of the TruckSmarter app and you'll see the feature ready to use on any eligible load.

To activate Calling Assistant:

• Open the TruckSmarter app and start a load search

• Tap on any load to view details

• Select Call broker → Calling Assistant

• Let your assistant do the work while you keep moving

For a detailed walkthrough, check out our help article on using Calling Assistant.

The Future of Smart Dispatching

The trucking industry is evolving, and the tools you use should evolve with it. Calling Assistant represents TruckSmarter’s commitment to building innovative tools for truck drivers that respect your time and expertise. Every feature we add to Dispatch is designed with that in mind, and we're constantly improving based on feedback from drivers like you. While others are still manually dialing brokers and waiting on hold, you can be moving faster with an assistant that works as hard as you do.

Ready to take back your time? Open the TruckSmarter app, start a search, and put Calling Assistant to work on your next load. 

Not using Dispatch yet? You can start a free trial today and see the difference of having AI-powered assistance handle your load searching and broker communications.